The Coming of the Vampire Counts

The von Draks ruled Sylvania for nearly 350 years, marking them as one of the longest ruling families of their time. Unfortunately, each generation of von Draks proved to be of lesser ability and more decadent than the preceding one. Otto was the last of the von Drak Counts, a thoroughly corrupt and predatory man whose atrocities became known throughout Stirland and Ostermark. His only surviving daughter married the mysterious Vlad von Carstein, ushering in the bloodiest period of war, tyranny, degeneracy and death that the Empire had ever seen.

Sylvania was ignored outside its borders for the first 200 years of von Carstein's reign, much as it was during the von Drak regime. The destruction of Mordheim across the River Stir provided von Carstein with the opportunity to gather more power in the form of the remnants of the meteor that fell upon the Ostermarker city. The shards were then called Wyrdstone and reputed to have magical properties. The destruction of Mordheim also removed a potential enemy in the Sisters of Sigmar with their powers of augury.

For ten years Count von Carstein bided his time as fortune hunters and mercenaries from all over the Empire and beyond swarmed over the ruins in search of wealth and power. With an Undead army at his command, von Carstein led his forces across the rebuilt bridge at Stirbrück and overwhelmed Mordheim and the surrounding mercenary villages from the west. Those that perished soon augmented von Carstein's army. The destruction of the ruined city marked the beginning of the Vampire Wars.

The full story of the Vampire Wars and the von Carsteins bloodlines can be found elsewhere in this issue of Strike-to-Stun. This black period of history lasted 135 years and ended in a marshy place called Hel Fenn. The wars of the von Carsteins plunged the Empire to a depth of destitution that exceeded anything since the Black Plague of 1111 I.C. A large portion of the population was lost and famine raged across the land for years.

The Chaos Incursion

With the death of the Vampire Counts, Sylvania slid back into the recesses of the Empire. Rebuilding continued at a very slow pace as the land and peasants were destitute. The Grand Count of Stirland even shunned the lands he claimed after Mannfred von Carstein's demise. As is their lot in life, the Sylvanians continued to scratch a living, no mater how miserable when compared to other parts of the Empire. Raven Knights scoured the countryside in periodic raids, sometimes with other Knightly Orders (such as the Fiery Heart), to cleanse it of the corruption of the von Carsteins. Many foul creatures were killed and their patrons burned at the stake.

The struggle of the numerous pretender Emperors continued apace, though no one seemed to pay Sylvania any attention. Then the world changed again. This time the enemy came from the north, not Sylvania. Chaos erupted from the forests and lands across the River Lynsk in Kislev. Count von Essen was eager to show Sylvania's meddle before the rest of the Empire and quickly raised a levy of peasants, led by his retinue and any mercenary who would join him, and marched through Ostermark to Kislev. Had he waited to co-ordinate his attack with Magnus the Pious as the forces of Ostermark and other eastern provinces had done, Count von Essen might have enjoyed the fruits of victory. Instead, his arrival in Kislev was ill-timed, as far as his fate and those of his men were concerned. They were massacred within sight of the besieged city of Kislev to a man. The only procession that the head of Count von Essen would lead would be at the end of a pike bearing the Champion's standard.

The Great War against Chaos without further participation from Sylvania. Once again, the Grand Count of Stirland had to repopulate the Sylvanian nobility with second (sometimes third) sons of prominent Stirlander nobility and qualified members of his own retinue. In this case, General Frederick Schliemann, one of the heroes in the Battle of Kislev, was elevated to Count of Sylvania and took the name von Walden to mark his ascension.

Sylvania Today

Since the time of Magnus, Sylvania continues to be plagued by the remnants of the corrupting forces that once ruled the fearful land. The oppressive environment continues to play havoc upon its populace as well as the ruling class. Depravity of certain members of Sylvanian nobility arises from time to time, though not to the magnitude of the past.

One of the more recent examples surrounds the mystery of Baron Karsten von Walden. In one of the private feuds so common to nobility, Baron von Walden sought satisfaction from a rival who won over a young nobleman's daughter that he fancied. According to rumours that circulated at that time, von Walden made a pact with dark forces to undermine the outer walls of Castle Siegfried so that he could kill his rival and take the woman so rightfully his. Once the deed was accomplished and the Baron's goal realised, Karsten von Walden reneged on his part of the foul bargain. The dark forces stole all the children of Waldendorf during festivities marking Geheimnisnacht and left evidence implicating Baron von Walden. The Baron did not have a chance to rebut the evidence as a grieving mob captured him as he tried to find sanctuary in a Temple of Sigmar. The Baron was quickly lynched before his father could intervene.

Since the ascension of Emperor Luitpold, father of Karl-Franz I, malevolent forces seem to be rising in Sylvania. Unexplained incidents and mysterious deaths seem to be occurring more frequently. The Mórrian priests and templars who maintain vigilance over Sylvania have reported experiencing an increase of disturbing dreams to their superiors in Nuln. Moreover, the superstitious peasants claim that there is an increase of fell creatures in the numerous dark woods and mist-enshrouded moors that dot the County, as well as the disappearance of loved ones. Rumours of werewolves, ghouls, and worse are reaching the ears of wary roadwardens, constables and town militias. Many now avoid being abroad at night for fear that they will not survive to see the dawn.

Outsiders visiting Sylvania are viewed by the common folk with suspicion. A wise traveller should keep their wits about them as the peasants wouldn't think twice about taking advantage of a stranger's ignorance. A number of recent foreigners, including some pedlars, have vanished without a trace in the wilds of this foreboding country.